In the first half of the 20th century, Nihonmachi, or Japantown, sat in the heart of Santa Barbara’s downtown on top of the former site of the historic El Presidio de Santa Barbara. Today, no structural trace of this once vibrant neighborhood remains, only fragments and memories. Sonzai tells the story of Santa Barbara’s Nihonmachi through oral history interviews, archaeology, and the researchers who seek to understand what happened to this community. Through these strands of history, the existence of a Japanese American community interrupted by war is brought to light in the present day.

Director Biography - Barre Fong

Barre Fong is a fourth generation Chinese-American and San Francisco native. Barre’s activities as a filmmaker and community activist is an embodiment of his grandfather’s dream of preserving his own experience as a turn-of-the-Century Chinese immigrant. He previously served as the President of the Board of Directors for the Chinese Historical Society of America and on the Board of Trustees of Lick-Wilmerding High School. He has produced and directed short films about the Asian American experience since 2013. His 2019 film, Finding the Virgo is currently available on PBS stations across the country.